Read on Twitter
1./ It's great to see the end of Trump but do we face 4 years of unscientific baloney from Biden's new Asst. Secretary of Health? A nasty Republican compared her to Benjamin Franklin. Disgusting! She looks nothing like Franklin. This tweet shows she may not be as smart either.
https://twitter.com/SecretaryLevine/status/1220745104605843457
https://twitter.com/SecretaryLevine/status/1220745104605843457
2./ By the way, I bet you don't know where Franklin became a doctor? Yes, it was Scotland! He travelled to St Andrews in 1759 to collect his doctorate and on the way met all the great and good of Caledonia including the young James Watt. Back to Levine. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-08-02-0072
3./ I applaud the Biden administration for its inclusive appointments. Every govt should have trans peeps at top level. BUT @SecretaryLevine cites a paper she says proves puberty blockers save lives; but which is actually a dreadful piece of science https://www.reuters.com/article/health-puberty-transgender/for-some-trans-youth-suicide-risk-lowers-with-puberty-suppression-idUSL1N29S1A0?edition-redirect=in
https://www.reuters.com/article/health-puberty-transgender/for-some-trans-youth-suicide-risk-lowers-with-puberty-suppression-idUSL1N29S1A0?edition-redirect=in
4./ When it was published all the zombie outlets that used to be the gay press but have now been lobotomised into LGBTQAA+ websites proclaimed it as proving puberty blockers were a miracle. It doesn't and they aren't. https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/23/puberty-blockers-decrease-suicide-mental-health-problems-transgender-teenagers/
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/23/puberty-blockers-decrease-suicide-mental-health-problems-transgender-teenagers/
5./ I spent just 1 hour analysing the paper (I make science docs; I do this for a living ) and realised the paper was full of holes. It admits, eg, that kids who were put on PBs were screened for mental health issues so of course they should have better mental health outcomes.
6./ And yet despite that the paper revealed those who HAD taken puberty blockers were hospitalised for suicide attempts more than those who didn't receive them. Yep, the Levine spin on the paper is completely at odds with the evidence. Here's my analysis. https://twitter.com/TwisterFilm/status/1222662489911058432?s=20
https://twitter.com/TwisterFilm/status/1222662489911058432?s=20
7./ I wish Rachel Levine well. BUT whatever your "gender identity" facts matter. It's harder to proscribe, say, idiot anti-vaxxers or conspiracy theorists if the US promotes unscientific garbage. This is a good takedown of @jack_turban by a real scientist. https://twitter.com/will_malone/status/1339107240121225216?s=20
8./ The many trans people I love often say they yearn to be their authentic selves. Good on them. I hope the new Assistant Secretary will be a genuine example: fearlessly following the bright light of scientific truth wherever it takes us; and however uncomfortable.
